The Pro Bono Counseling Project is celebrating over 25 years working with licensed mental health professionals throughout Maryland who have taken more than 10,500 Maryland families, couples and individuals of all ages into their private practices. We started because the federal government was going to impose a national health care policy that did not take the necessities of mental health care into account. Much has changed during the past 25 years, and much hasn't. We may have parity now with somatic care; and the Affordable Care Act has opened many doors; but in 2016, we are still facing little and less access to mental health care.

We are still lacking in the following areas: 1) Spanish-speaking clinicians; 2) Sponsorships to provide more free workshops for therapists; and 3) a part-time staff member to travel throughout Maryland in rural and urban communities, talking with seniors, adolescents, recent immigrants to dispel the stigma and show how easy it is to access care.

Until these concerns are resolved, it will always be our mission to provide Marylanders with limited resources access to mental health care providers in the community along with other necessary supportive services.

Q: When may a client get started?

Q: What kinds of cases does the Pro Bono Counseling Project refer?

A: Client requests for care range from childhood problems, to those of adult individuals, including family and/or couples therapy, representing a wide variety of cases, including:

Depression

Anxiety

Abuse

Self-esteem

Self-abuse

Relationships

Eating disorders

Divorce

Grief

The Pro Bono Counseling Project serves individuals, families and couples who live and/or work in Maryland who can not receive mental health care from any other source. The Pro Bono Counseling Project provides neither a crisis/hot line service nor treatment for patients with chronic mental illness or disorders due to drug and/or alcohol abuse. The Pro Bono Counseling Project does not provide medications or medication resources.

Q: How does the Pro Bono Counseling Project receive referrals?

A: The Pro Bono Counseling Project works closely with county core service agencies, college / university counseling centers, departments of aging, victims services and other selected referral sources, providing confidential screening, record keeping, and reporting in 19 counties and Baltimore City.

Referrals are also received from other non-profit agencies, approximately 30 community-based groups, professional referral services, therapists, and hospitals.

Q: How is a client linked with a therapist?

A: Typically, a prospective client has a preliminary interview within 24 hours after their initial phone call to the Pro Bono Counseling Project. Following that interview, they are speaking with a clinician within seven to ten days.

The Pro Bono Counseling Project personalizes the service for both the client and for the therapist.

Each client has special needs – locating a therapist on a bus line, one who speaks a foreign language, has training in a specific field, time constraints due to a job, etc.

Each therapist, designs his/her participation such as type and number of cases, scheduling concerns.

Q: How is the work funded?

A: Public funds, private and corporate foundations and individual contributions support the efforts of the Pro Bono Counseling Project. For more information on major funders please go to our supporters section »